Four Wheels for All: The case for the rapid automobilisation of Indi

Four Wheels for All: The case for the rapid automobilisation of India by Sauvik Chakraverti

India has been gradually liberalising the automobile industry and opening it up to international competition. Today, the streets are awash with foreign brands, made in India. Yet, the launch of the Tata Nano has evoked horror from many environmentalists and town planners. They abhor the idea of universal car ownership inIndia.

In this important contribution to the debate, noted liberal scholar and author Sauvik Chakraverti challenges the readers to think of the wider impact of greater automobility, arguing for policies that will make cars affordable to all, lowering taxes and tariffs, including import of duty-free used cars.

Chakraverti looks at the issue from many angles. He places his reader between two options: as a successful individual owner of his own car, driving where he likes to go – which is self-directedness or autonomy – or being "moved in masses" at the whim of the "transport planner". And so it emerges that the car is part of the solution – the escape button every Indian needs. But the roads must be built on a war footing. And greater automobile ownership will create a political constituency in support of better roads. With greater connectivity, choices and markets will enlarge, the economy will get a boost, and freedom will reign.

This paper is firmly on the side of progress – enhanced personal mobility will greatly empower the aam admi, the euphemistic common man.

http://www.indefenceofliberty.org/story.aspx?id=1914&pubid=1705